Zephaniah 2:2

(2) Before the decree bring forth.—i.e., before God’s decree or ordinance, against which they have offended, brings forth the curse foretold in Zephaniah 1:0. There is no occasion to identify the “decree” with the Book of the Law brought to light at the time of Josiah’s Reformation (see Introd. II.).

Before the day pass as the chaff.—Better, perhaps, parenthetically, for the day is passing by like chaff. The time for repentance is speeding by like chaff whirled before the wind.